“But you’ve got to have some forum in which you lay the facts out on the table and people make a decision on whether there was anything inappropriate with her behavior. Based on what police are saying, I don’t think it’s a long, drawn out investigation.”

Morse, a former police chief, said it doesn’t matter that Denver police, who smelled alcohol on Bradford’s breath and said she almost hit a parked car, have now said they misconstrued what Bradford said that night.

“Police need to protect the public and the integrity of their institution,” Morse said. “We have to protect our institution. I think (an ethics committee) is an appropriate call.

“An investigation is not something to be afraid of, especially when it’s done with clean hands and good faith.”

Bradford maintains that if she didn’t invoke legislative immunity, which police said she didn’t, McNulty shouldn’t continue with an ethics probe to determine whether she invoked it. She’s so upset she is considering leaving the Republican Party.

Majority Leader Stephens and Minority Leader Ferrandino: Pursuant to Rule 49 (a) of the House of Representatives, I request that the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, along with me, conduct a review to determine whether there is probable cause to empanel a Committee on Ethics to investigate whether Representative Laura Bradford is guilty of misconduct involving her legislative duties and if so, to make appropriate recommendations to the House of Representatives. The specific allegations are:

On January 25, 2012, Representative Laura Bradford is alleged to have committed one or more traffic violations, including driving under the influence of alcohol or while her abilities were impaired. Further, when stopped by officers of the Denver Police Department, Representative Bradford was availed of legislative privilege, either expressly or implicitly, to avoid arrest and thereby avoiding a full investigation of her level and state of intoxication or impairment.

The specific issues for review are:

1) A. Whether on January 25, 2012, Representative Bradford was driving under the influence of alcohol or while her abilities were impaired, in violation of C.R.S. section 42-4-1301 (a) or (b).

B. If the committee determines Representative Bradford was driving under the influence of alcohol or while her abilities were impaired whether her misconduct involved her legislative duties in a manner to warrant action under House Rule 49.

2) A. Whether on January 25, 2012, Representative Bradford invoked legislative privilege against arrest, either expressly or implicitly, and was granted such privilege, thereby avoiding further investigation of her level of intoxication and further potential charges under the Colorado Revised Statutes.

B. If Representative Bradford either invoked or was granted legislative privilege against arrest on January 25, 2012, whether the invocation or acceptance of legislative privilege, under the facts and circumstances, constituted misconduct involving her legislative duties in a manner to warrant action under Rule 49 (a) of the House.

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.